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Paper Talk: Man United duo could still leave; Aubameyang alert

Date published: Wednesday 1st February 2017 8:07

Manchester United are gearing up to the possible departures of two key players, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put several big-money suitors on alert for a summer transfer scramble, according to Wednesday’s newspapers.

DUO COULD STILL LEAVE MAN UTD CHINA

Jose Mourinho still fears the departure of key Manchester United squad men Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young to China before the end of February.

Although the duo didn’t secure moves away from the club on transfer deadline day – the final 24 hours of which you can relive right here – the pair could still move to the lucrative Chinese Super League with their window remaining open until February 28 – leaving scope for movement before the end of the campaign

The Daily Mirror claims the duo both have huge offers from China sitting on the table and will give ‘serious thought’ to the moves before February 28.

The paper claims Rooney is especially tempted given he is no longer first choice at Old Trafford and recently broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record at the club. They suggest he could earn a massive £140million over three years in China.

Mourinho offloaded midfielders Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay in the January window and claimed he cannot afford to lose any more players, with United still fighting on four fronts.

“We don’t have players in, we don’t have players out,” he said. “We already lost two players from the squad.

On Young, who attracted interest from Swansea, West Ham, West Brom and Watford, as well as China, Mourinho added: “He’s staying, he’s selected for tomorrow [Wednesday’s home match against Hull].

“He stays with me until the end of the season.”

AUBAMEYANG ROCKS DORTMUND BY CONFIRMING EXIT PLAN

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has rocked Borussia Dortmund by finally confirming he intends to quit the club in the summer.

The highly-sought after striker, linked with a number of the Premier League’s big spenders, said he needs to leave at the end of the season and take his game to the next level.

“If I want to reach the next level, I must leave in the summer,” the striker told French radio. “Real Madrid is still a dream, but there has been too much noise.”

While Aubameyang has never hid from the fact that Real Madrid are his ‘dream club’ and even admitted to promising his grandfather he would play for the Merengues one day, the striker appears to have recently backed off that somewhat and admitted he is open to ‘going anywhere’.

That is sure to alert a number of English sides, with Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all likely to be keen.

Hull attempted to bring former Manchester United winger Nani, 30, now with Valencia, back to the Premier League (Daily Mail)

The Toffees discussed the possibility of signing West Ham goalkeeper Adrian, 30, in the January window but will now wait until the summer before deciding on a number one (Liverpool Echo)

Rangers boss Mark Warburton says he was pleasantly surprised there were no late offers for winger Barrie McKay and hopes to keep the 22-year-old beyond the 18 months remaining on his contract (Daily Express)

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has identified Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling as the club’s exciting young forward line of the future – but warned all of them to start delivering immediately (Guardian)

Dimitri Payet will receive a £1m signing-on fee from Marseilles after finally completing his transfer from West Ham. The total potential value of Payet’s four-and-a-half-year contract is £32m, depending on performances, but he insists the move is not motivated by money(The Times)